The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave our three beaches their lowest grade.

Spokesman Dr Matt Crowe said Rush had shown improvements, but results from 2012-14 kept it at a low ranking.

Merrion Strand and Loughshinny were classified as poor for the first time in 2015.

The EPA said that issues at Merrion Strand were complex and had been developing for years.

Water running out of Elm Park stream is one issue while the growing number of seabirds is another.

Loughshinny got its poor mark partly due to overall quality issues.

Dr Crowe said: "The relevant local authorities, in conjunction with Irish Water, have management plans in place to tackle the main pollution risks and these plans are designed to return these beaches to at least sufficient quality in the next year or two."

EPSA senior scientific officer Peter Webster said: "The fact that any bathing water has been classified as poor means a risk of periodic microbiological pollution.

"Under the Bathing Water Regulations, local authorities are required to put in place notifications for the entire bathing season advising the public against bathing which could include a bathing prohibition if a serious pollution incident occurs."

The report said that last summer's July storms played a part in the poor results in some sites.